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Space Demons Trilogy #2
Небесный лабиринт
Фантастическая повесть австралийской писательницы Джилиан Рубинстайн «Небесный лабиринт» посвящен популярной теме компьютерных игр и является продолжением предыдущего произведения этой серии — «Космических демонов». Главные герои — подростки Бен, Элейн и Эндрю — попадают внутрь загадочной и интересной компьютерной игры, где они должны преодолеть множество сложных препятствий и выбраться из фантастического лабиринта.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
4 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Rubinstein
46 books40 followershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillian_...
Also works under the pen name Lian Hearn
Also works under the pen name Lian Hearn
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 17, 2019
Though written for adolescents, felt good reading it, reminding me of how it felt to be a teenager, the adventures, dreams and the excitement of imagining imaginary worlds!
Bought it and read it, will hand it down to my child at the right time as s/he will definitely enjoy it.
Bought it and read it, will hand it down to my child at the right time as s/he will definitely enjoy it.
July 18, 2010
I forced myself to read the thing since I'll be teaching it this term at school. I was utterly turned off by the outdated dialogue and characters in the first few pages - what teenager these days says, "No Second Year dares hassle us!"? Or owns their own stack of Mad Magazine comics? Where would you find 40c arcade games these days? Or use a computer that you would have to type in the command 'RUN' to play a CD? Or uses a joystick *with* the computer? The early description of the game with its "stunningly realistic graphics" is laughingly sad.
Still you get past your own feelings of technologically advanced superiority, and the novel becomes a bit more interesting, even the descriptions of the game levels.
However, the random relationships between the characters, both major and minor, are very underdeveloped, and it kind of feels like they've been inserted in order to resolve the book with a moral...about seeing things from your parents'/siblings/friends' point of view, or something. Why does Darren not ask his brother any questions about the fact he's been sucked into the game and the strange things that happen there, taking it like it's completely logical? Why is it important that Linda has a crush on every guy she ever meets? What happens to the weird love quadrangle that seems to develop with the four main characters?
Everything is attempted to be resolved in a single paragraph which narrates Elaine's thoughts: "I guess Darren's not going to hassle Ben so much, and perhaps Ben's going to stand up for himself a bit more. And Andrew and Paul will probably work things out." All these 'resolutions' are purely conjecture - it's highly unlikely any of this will happen. For instance, why would Darren stop hassling Ben after a single incident if he's been doing it for years? Ben only stood up for himself in the first place when he had the temporary opportunity to physically tower over him.
I read Space Demons many many years ago, and I can only assume that Skymaze is not well thought out as I imagine its predecessor must have been, as Rubinstein's motivation to write this one is clearly spelled out in her dedication- "This book is for everyone who asked for a sequel."
Still you get past your own feelings of technologically advanced superiority, and the novel becomes a bit more interesting, even the descriptions of the game levels.
However, the random relationships between the characters, both major and minor, are very underdeveloped, and it kind of feels like they've been inserted in order to resolve the book with a moral...about seeing things from your parents'/siblings/friends' point of view, or something. Why does Darren not ask his brother any questions about the fact he's been sucked into the game and the strange things that happen there, taking it like it's completely logical? Why is it important that Linda has a crush on every guy she ever meets? What happens to the weird love quadrangle that seems to develop with the four main characters?
Everything is attempted to be resolved in a single paragraph which narrates Elaine's thoughts: "I guess Darren's not going to hassle Ben so much, and perhaps Ben's going to stand up for himself a bit more. And Andrew and Paul will probably work things out." All these 'resolutions' are purely conjecture - it's highly unlikely any of this will happen. For instance, why would Darren stop hassling Ben after a single incident if he's been doing it for years? Ben only stood up for himself in the first place when he had the temporary opportunity to physically tower over him.
I read Space Demons many many years ago, and I can only assume that Skymaze is not well thought out as I imagine its predecessor must have been, as Rubinstein's motivation to write this one is clearly spelled out in her dedication- "This book is for everyone who asked for a sequel."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2020
This is another old one that has been sitting there waiting for me. The pandemic has allowed me to read some that have been very patient.
September 12, 2019
This book is very close to my heart.
Gillian Rubinstein is such a good writer that the visualisations produced by her words have stayed with me into my adult life. The concept of the sky maze and how to access it are unique as far as I can tell have not been recreated in fiction. Many a night I went to sleep and dreamed of the silvery grey world that she described-the escape it provided. Bringing back all my favourite characters from space Demons, this coming of age tale is both similar to its predecessor in the way is it needs to be, but otherwise very different in tone and pace. I read this book at just the right time when I too was going through the changes that its characters were and could relate.
I love this story more than space Demons and highly recommend it to anyone with the love of science fiction, teen drama, fantasy and the fantastical. Gillian Rubinstein /Liam Hearn is a fantastic writer who still has a gift of inspiring young imaginations today.
Highly recommended.
Gillian Rubinstein is such a good writer that the visualisations produced by her words have stayed with me into my adult life. The concept of the sky maze and how to access it are unique as far as I can tell have not been recreated in fiction. Many a night I went to sleep and dreamed of the silvery grey world that she described-the escape it provided. Bringing back all my favourite characters from space Demons, this coming of age tale is both similar to its predecessor in the way is it needs to be, but otherwise very different in tone and pace. I read this book at just the right time when I too was going through the changes that its characters were and could relate.
I love this story more than space Demons and highly recommend it to anyone with the love of science fiction, teen drama, fantasy and the fantastical. Gillian Rubinstein /Liam Hearn is a fantastic writer who still has a gift of inspiring young imaginations today.
Highly recommended.
July 14, 2021
3 stars for me, but probably 3 1/2 or 4 for the target age group.
I didn't think this was as good as Space Demons. The plot and description of the game weren't as sharp, and the characters lacked development. I also found that there were a few too many characters. I had put the book down for a week or so because life became busy, and when I went back, the characters weren't differentiated enough in my memory.
The ending was quite abrupt, I thought.
It wasn't all bad, though. I would have no problem giving the book to a reader who had enjoyed the first one if it kept them reading.
I didn't think this was as good as Space Demons. The plot and description of the game weren't as sharp, and the characters lacked development. I also found that there were a few too many characters. I had put the book down for a week or so because life became busy, and when I went back, the characters weren't differentiated enough in my memory.
The ending was quite abrupt, I thought.
It wasn't all bad, though. I would have no problem giving the book to a reader who had enjoyed the first one if it kept them reading.
January 22, 2018
Very interesting experience to read for the first time as an adult the continuation of a story I first discovered as a kid (SPACE DEMONS). The author does a great job of staying true to the characters, raising the stakes without going over the top, and expanding on the original idea with a new twist. It wasn't quite as thrilling or surprising since you know the general gist if you've read the first one. As a teen I would have loved it, I'm sure.
February 12, 2020
I first read this book when I was around 8 or 9, and it made enough of an impact on me that it still haunted me a decade later, despite not having seen it or even being able to remember the name of the book in the interim. Some books you read will never leave you, and for me, this is one of them.
October 18, 2022
Nostaglia maybe is behind me reading this series again. It's obviously a little dated technology wise but the story still stands well. I didn't realise there was a third book which is also why I'm reading again!
April 16, 2016
Sufficiently different to Space Demons, while also thematically very much the same, to be quite satisfying.
This sits on my NAMES shelf because 'Gillian' throughout the Middle Ages had the sense of a maze or a labyrinth, so the author is amongst those who are looking deep within their own names for inspiration - and often struggling, like Jacob at the Ford of Jabbok, for a re-definition of the identity encoded in that name.
Andrew's mother has remarried and he's moved to the other side of Adelaide into his new step-father's house. Keith is an apparently sensitive, caring man who actually has no idea how deep his manipulation is or the extent of his passive aggression. He constantly wants Andrew to articulate how he's feeling and, when Andrew says he doesn't know, has the irritating habit of telling him what he's feeling. If this isn't bad enough, in the interest of family harmony, he has made a rule that there can be no 'veto' when one person asks another to do something together. The effect on privacy is devastating. So when Paul, Andrew's new step-brother, wants to know about the package Andrew has received from Japan, Andrew's refusal to answer becomes a huge deal.
In fact, Andrew has received the Skymaze game - a sequel to Space Demons. He can't wait to show Ben, one of the friends who experienced the Space Demons game with him.
Ben is the one who grows and matures most in this story. He has been harassed for years by his older brother Darren who has a fairly significant cruel streak. Ben has been so deeply affected by this he hardly even notices when other people treat him dismissively or take advantage of him. He finds himself reacting automatically to deflect and minimise aggression and then, when he realises what he's done, castigating himself for not standing up for himself.
Some spoilers follow:
The Skymaze game is addictive - but not nearly as unpleasant as Space Demons. Yes, it turns the players into participants within the game itself. They are sucked into an alternate reality. But they have learned from the past: Mario really desperately wants to pick up the gun in the Resource Chamber of the game but is persuaded to settle for the elixir of healing. It's against every instinct he has but he knows what the gun represents and what it will do to him from past experience.
Elaine is also brought back into the game and, for most of it, is unable to access the Resource Chamber.
When Paul and Darren separately become players within the game, they create havoc - and turn a relatively pleasant experience into something incredibly dark and sinister. Mario's permanent death within the game has repercussions in the real world... he's in a coma and there's no way to wake him.
It requires all the friends, working together - both in the real world and in the game - to defeat the forces activated by Paul and Darren.
This sits on my NAMES shelf because 'Gillian' throughout the Middle Ages had the sense of a maze or a labyrinth, so the author is amongst those who are looking deep within their own names for inspiration - and often struggling, like Jacob at the Ford of Jabbok, for a re-definition of the identity encoded in that name.
Andrew's mother has remarried and he's moved to the other side of Adelaide into his new step-father's house. Keith is an apparently sensitive, caring man who actually has no idea how deep his manipulation is or the extent of his passive aggression. He constantly wants Andrew to articulate how he's feeling and, when Andrew says he doesn't know, has the irritating habit of telling him what he's feeling. If this isn't bad enough, in the interest of family harmony, he has made a rule that there can be no 'veto' when one person asks another to do something together. The effect on privacy is devastating. So when Paul, Andrew's new step-brother, wants to know about the package Andrew has received from Japan, Andrew's refusal to answer becomes a huge deal.
In fact, Andrew has received the Skymaze game - a sequel to Space Demons. He can't wait to show Ben, one of the friends who experienced the Space Demons game with him.
Ben is the one who grows and matures most in this story. He has been harassed for years by his older brother Darren who has a fairly significant cruel streak. Ben has been so deeply affected by this he hardly even notices when other people treat him dismissively or take advantage of him. He finds himself reacting automatically to deflect and minimise aggression and then, when he realises what he's done, castigating himself for not standing up for himself.
Some spoilers follow:
The Skymaze game is addictive - but not nearly as unpleasant as Space Demons. Yes, it turns the players into participants within the game itself. They are sucked into an alternate reality. But they have learned from the past: Mario really desperately wants to pick up the gun in the Resource Chamber of the game but is persuaded to settle for the elixir of healing. It's against every instinct he has but he knows what the gun represents and what it will do to him from past experience.
Elaine is also brought back into the game and, for most of it, is unable to access the Resource Chamber.
When Paul and Darren separately become players within the game, they create havoc - and turn a relatively pleasant experience into something incredibly dark and sinister. Mario's permanent death within the game has repercussions in the real world... he's in a coma and there's no way to wake him.
It requires all the friends, working together - both in the real world and in the game - to defeat the forces activated by Paul and Darren.
Read
June 23, 2021I never rated this book, but it is so boring.
August 27, 2013
I definitely liked this book more than Space Demons, and a LOT more than Shinkei. It stands on its own merit, and while it is by no means perfect, it has a unique charm many other young adult books do not have.
Skymaze centres a lot around the angst of the teenage characters, so they can be a little insufferable at times. However, thankfully, all the characters have strongpoints that make them very likeable, and in this book they experience quite a bit of growth that is essential to pulling them out of their angsty modes. Mario is probably my favourite character out of the lot, and he has his best moments in this book!
The way the book is written could take a little time to get used to (especially with the Australian setting) but the characters and the game easily come alive. There is a very strong message in this book, and it was communicated without too much cheesiness. (Just a little bit.) The author pulled no punches in showing the wild and dangerous sides to a teenage psyche. I mean, the Mad Mouse ride? Crazy stuff to be writing to a teenage audience in mind!
The trilogy is decent, but out of the three I personally like Skymaze the best.
Skymaze centres a lot around the angst of the teenage characters, so they can be a little insufferable at times. However, thankfully, all the characters have strongpoints that make them very likeable, and in this book they experience quite a bit of growth that is essential to pulling them out of their angsty modes. Mario is probably my favourite character out of the lot, and he has his best moments in this book!
The way the book is written could take a little time to get used to (especially with the Australian setting) but the characters and the game easily come alive. There is a very strong message in this book, and it was communicated without too much cheesiness. (Just a little bit.) The author pulled no punches in showing the wild and dangerous sides to a teenage psyche. I mean, the Mad Mouse ride? Crazy stuff to be writing to a teenage audience in mind!
The trilogy is decent, but out of the three I personally like Skymaze the best.
June 22, 2009
Rubinstein brought the game into the real world in an amazingly realistic manner. Her descriptions provide the reader with stunning mental visuals - I could easily visualize the actual skymaze when I read the book.
The characters have grown up a bit since the last installment and their interpersonal relationships are considerably more stable. Less time, therefore, is spent on their individual issues, and there's considerably more heart-stopping action. Teenagers who was disappointed by the lack of action in the first book would probably like this one better. This one lacks the subtlety and creepiness of the first one, which is a shame, but the new aspects make it just as good, if not better.
The characters have grown up a bit since the last installment and their interpersonal relationships are considerably more stable. Less time, therefore, is spent on their individual issues, and there's considerably more heart-stopping action. Teenagers who was disappointed by the lack of action in the first book would probably like this one better. This one lacks the subtlety and creepiness of the first one, which is a shame, but the new aspects make it just as good, if not better.
April 15, 2010
I remember this book very fondly from my childhood, I probably first read it when I was 12 or 13, the same age as the characters in the story. The idea of the Skymaze game was so thrilling to me at that age, but not much else of the story had made a lasting impression. My nostalgic memory of it was enough for me to find a copy at the library and re-read it at the age of 33. As long as I kept reminding myself it was written for and about young teens, it was an okay read. I think kids of that age might find the plot exciting enough, although computer terminology has moved on quite a bit since 1989! Maybe teens reading this now will find it a bit "lame". Perhaps it needs editing for the new millenium?
Four stars from my young teen self, probably 2 stars from my present point of view!
Four stars from my young teen self, probably 2 stars from my present point of view!
December 21, 2024
Computer games were all the rage in the 90s, and at the time, I thought this book was the most amazing thing I had ever read. Even 30 years later, I still think it’s incredible.
The different viewpoints of the four characters—Andrew, Ben, Elaine, and Mario—offer unique insights into how each of them processes and deals with challenges, showing us the diversity of thought and experience. I loved following their journey through adolescence and seeing how each of them developed and grew.
I actually read Skymaze before Space Demons, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. I still have the same copy I owned when I was twelve, and although it’s now battered, re-read countless od times and well-loved, every time I pick it up, it brings back all the nostalgic feels.
The different viewpoints of the four characters—Andrew, Ben, Elaine, and Mario—offer unique insights into how each of them processes and deals with challenges, showing us the diversity of thought and experience. I loved following their journey through adolescence and seeing how each of them developed and grew.
I actually read Skymaze before Space Demons, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. I still have the same copy I owned when I was twelve, and although it’s now battered, re-read countless od times and well-loved, every time I pick it up, it brings back all the nostalgic feels.
January 18, 2009
Life is too short to read mediocre books like this. Very much like the first book in the series 'Space Demons' it involves the same characters with only a little character growth. Another horrible video game comes to threaten the lives of our 'heroes' who get stuck inside it at times. This type of plot was covered extensively in Space Demons.
April 5, 2014
I really enjoyed this book when I was younger, and borrowed it from the school library about four times to make sure I finished. I've probably grown out of it now, but I still have find memories, and certain elements still stick out in my mind.
December 28, 2015
Followup to Space Demons. Felt the same. Interesting-enough story, but stiff and some of the characters stay very flat even though this is the second book they're in (so you'd expect them to get much more fleshed out).
July 29, 2011
Oh....so I have read books from this lady before....
I don't remember much of this book, but back when I read it, I think I liked it....
I don't remember much of this book, but back when I read it, I think I liked it....
October 31, 2014
Like Space Demons, this was a tense, terrifying read. At night time I was unable to walk down my hallway in the dark without expecting arms to reach out of it and grab me. Fantastic and chilling.
April 16, 2017
I remember enjoying this immensely when I read it back in 1994, and it was the same this third time around. The game world is much richer and more nuanced than in Space Demons, and there's some creepily atmospheric settings such as a fairground, quarry, multi-storey carpark and adventure playground that set the menacing tone perfectly. The characters have all developed a little and grown more likeable and the story touches on some challenging themes. Worth rereading.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews